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Fakes & FraudsCharoite from Brazil?

5th May 2015 12:58 UTCJohn Collins

I am noticing a lot of nice "charoite" samples for sale these days on eBay purportedly coming from Brazil. Is Brazil a new source of this mineral? I communicated with two eBay sellers who were told by their wholesalers that Brazil is the source.

If these are legit, does anyone know where in Brazil is the source location?

5th May 2015 13:31 UTCAlfredo Petrov Manager

Googling charoite from Brazil, I see only finished pieces of jewelry labelled that way, and jewelry suppliers are notorious for not keeping good track of where their stuff comes from. Until a research paper or a mineral specimen dealer gives a more specific locality in "Brazil", I'd be highly skeptical :-S

5th May 2015 14:00 UTCJohn Collins

Here's a sample of an unpolished block of the stuff:

http://www.ebay.ca/itm/428-8CT-100-Natural-Charoite-Facet-Rough-Specimen-YCH37/351389653875?_trksid=p2054897.c100204.m3164&_trkparms=aid%3D222007%26algo%3DSIC.MBE%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D20140407115239%26meid%3Dbdfe00036c78494e9517a045e2ed8f5e%26pid%3D100204%26rk%3D5%26rkt%3D25%26sd%3D371311608180

daqddyo1

5th May 2015 14:21 UTCAlfredo Petrov Manager

John, either I'm blind or not experienced enough at using e-bay, but where does it claim there that this charoite is from Brazil?

It looks like russian material, right down to the tinaksite inclusions.

5th May 2015 14:32 UTCJeff Weissman Expert

Much like turquoise was thought to come from Turkey, could this material be polished in Brazil, from Russian material? Thus, origin of manufacture - Brazil.

5th May 2015 15:01 UTCJohn Collins

Alfred - the Brazil reference is just below the second photo in the chart.

Jeff - Good point. It certainly looks like the real stuff.

daqddyo1

5th May 2015 18:42 UTCDavid Von Bargen Manager

http://www.ebay.ca/itm/10-85CT-Charoite-Cab-RHA180/371313344498?_trksid=p2047675.c100005.m1851&_trkparms=aid%3D222007%26algo%3DSIC.MBE%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D20140620091118%26meid%3D835b43a0a2f94e60bd0e69560aa9f6ee%26pid%3D100005%26rk%3D2%26rkt%3D6%26sd%3D351389653875&rt=nc

Dyed and from the USA

He is also selling green amethyst.

5th May 2015 19:11 UTCJohn Collins

Interesting: the url I gave earlier doesn't go to the page I intended. Try this:

http://www.ebay.ca/itm/351385750335?_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

daqddyo1

5th May 2015 20:19 UTCJolyon Ralph Founder

It's certainly not from Brazil, that's from Russia.

5th May 2015 20:42 UTCJohn Collins

Thanks all,

Regards,

John

5th May 2015 21:54 UTCRock Currier Expert

Yes definitely from Russia and not Brazil.

4th Aug 2015 19:17 UTCKristi Hugs

I have often been told that Brazil cuts and polishes a bunch of stuff from all over, so they stick a Brazil label on it if that is the case?? is that true?

4th Aug 2015 19:18 UTCKristi Hugs

OMG David, that link you shared........that piece is horrible and sooooooooooo obvious! wowsa!

4th Aug 2015 20:11 UTCAlfredo Petrov Manager

Kristi, It might be a U.S. Customs requirement that pieces cut and polished in country X bear a sticker saying "Made in X", whether or not the rough rock was originally from there.

4th Aug 2015 20:16 UTCKristi Hugs

that makes sense Alfredo, thank you. Just wondering if maybe the Ebay seller who posted the charoite saw the brazil sticker and assumed it was from brazil not having researched where Charoite comes from :) I run across that a lot :)